'Atlanta' memes give cast member Brian Tyree Henry the feels

NEW YORK (AP) — With dozens of TV shows that are available for viewing each night, it's not easy for a new series to cut through the noise and get attention.

FX's "Atlanta" (Tuesday, 10 p.m. Eastern) has managed to do just that, and not only with critical acclaim. It's also often posted about on social media.

"It's one of those shows that starts a conversation and the conversation is so open-ended because every week we're gonna bring you something different," said Brian Tyree Henry, who plays a rising rap star on the show.

"This is one of the most fulfilling things about being an actor because when it's something you really get to sink your teeth in that really reflects you and will reflect so many other people. ... It's what you hope for," he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Prior to "Atlanta," Henry was best known as a member of the original Broadway cast of "The Book of Mormon."

Henry and Donald Glover play cousins on "Atlanta." Henry is an aspiring rapper named Alfred who goes by the moniker Paper Boi. Glover's character, Earn, is his manager. Glover also created the series, performs as a musician under the name Childish Gambino and was just cast in the new "Star Wars" movie as Lando Calrissian.

"He is a genius because there is this fearlessness to him and this wonder to him," Henry said of Glover. "You can tell every day that he walks the streets that he is contemplating and seeing the world in a certain way. ... I remember sitting down in the (screen) test and feeling like, 'I feel like I know this dude.'"

Henry said he's happy that "Atlanta" has been renewed for a second season.

"I always say I'm not going to work, I'm going to play with my friends. We're just gonna go play together and we're just gonna see what comes out of that."

Henry said he also can't get enough of the memes that fans of "Atlanta" make online.

"I laugh, I cry, I laugh again. I copy and paste stuff. The memes, the gifs. It's just so great."